Winter tire time again...

[Tsi7]

You guys do realize wider tires are worse for snow traction right? Hence one of the reasons why smaller diameter rims are better because the tires are generally thinner (195 on 15 inch vs 205 on 16 inch, for example)

 

[chiefhiawatha]

Yes

 

[Tooly]

I bought the Nokian Happa R2 last year and wouldn't buy them again next time, they're wearing too fast. Maybe in a climate where it is consistently colder and snowier for the majority of winter they would wear better but here in the PNW (at sea level anyways) I think they're overkill.

 

[chiefhiawatha]

I bought the Nokian Happa R2 last year and wouldn't buy them again next time, they're wearing too fast. Maybe in a climate where it is consistently colder and snowier for the majority of winter they would wear better but here in the PNW (at sea level anyways) I think they're overkill.

Tooly

I can understand this. They’re definitely best in severe conditions.

 

[Fretman]

So I thought about going down to a 15” tire for the Comfortline which has a stock 205/55r/16. However, my tire specialist says on his wholesaler site there are no 15” rims available for this car. He recommended if I wanted to go with a narrower tire, he could get me a 16” rim with a tire size 195/70r/16. That's a variance difference of over 7% I believe. I heard it’s not safe if the variance is +/- 3%. Also I couldn’t t even find any major tire stores who stock tires in this size. Am I missing something here. I find it strange that you would not be able to get 15” wheels and tires for this car. Thanks.

 

[THEREALVRT]

So I thought about going down to a 15” tire for the Comfortline which has a stock 205/55r/16. However, my tire specialist says on his wholesaler site there are no 15” rims available for this car. He recommended if I wanted to go with a narrower tire, he could get me a 16” rim with a tire size 195/70r/16. That's a variance difference of over 7% I believe. I heard it’s not safe if the variance is +/- 3%. Also I couldn’t t even find any major tire stores who stock tires in this size. Am I missing something here. I find it strange that you would not be able to get 15” wheels and tires for this car. Thanks.

they do exist.unless they are backordered at the moment. you should try going somewhere else. you are 100% correct on that 195/70/16 being WAY too big

 

[Fretman]

they do exist.unless they are backordered at the moment. you should try going somewhere else. you are 100% correct on that 195/70/16 being WAY too big

Thanks...that's what I thought. You're in Ottawa too. Where do you go for your winters?

 

[THEREALVRT]

Thanks...that's what I thought. You're in Ottawa too. Where do you go for your winters?

i work in the industry so i get my own stuff.
where in ottawa are you?

 

[Fretman]

i work in the industry so i get my own stuff.
where in ottawa are you?

I'm here in Barrhaven.

 

[Tsi7]

So I thought about going down to a 15” tire for the Comfortline which has a stock 205/55r/16. However, my tire specialist says on his wholesaler site there are no 15” rims available for this car. He recommended if I wanted to go with a narrower tire, he could get me a 16” rim with a tire size 195/70r/16. That's a variance difference of over 7% I believe. I heard it’s not safe if the variance is +/- 3%. Also I couldn’t t even find any major tire stores who stock tires in this size. Am I missing something here. I find it strange that you would not be able to get 15” wheels and tires for this car. Thanks.

You're tire specialist has no clue what he's talking about... I have OEM vw 15 inch steelies with 195/65/15 tires... Here's a link to my car thread... First pictures show the car with the 15 inch tires

https://www.golfmk7.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36822

If you're tire specialist can't find the rims, go to vw and buy them or look on Kijiji for 5x112 vw steel rims, you will find plenty

 

[THEREALVRT]

I'm here in Barrhaven.

try contacting Go Partners on Bentley ave
they are good people

 

[Fretman]

You're tire specialist has no clue what he's talking about... I have OEM vw 15 inch steelies with 195/65/15 tires... Here's a link to my car thread... First pictures show the car with the 15 inch tires

https://www.golfmk7.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36822

If you're tire specialist can't find the rims, go to vw and buy them or look on Kijiji for 5x112 vw steel rims, you will find plenty

Thanks for the heads-up. I'm not sure why my tire specialist told me that. I did some more digging and it appears that going from 205/55r/16 to 195/65r/15 is something that is quite common. Unless he thinks that my model of the VW Golf has something special about the brakes that might cause an issue?

 

[Fretman]

try contacting Go Partners on Bentley ave
they are good people

Thanks. I'll look them up and see what they're about.

 

[RPMW MK7]

I have a set of 16" i bought for my GTI that didn't because of the brakes for sale. I'll sell you them for 650$

 

[Tsi7]

Thanks for the heads-up. I'm not sure why my tire specialist told me that. I did some more digging and it appears that going from 205/55r/16 to 195/65r/15 is something that is quite common. Unless he thinks that my model of the VW Golf has something special about the brakes that might cause an issue?

Only reason he would've told you that is if you have bigger calipers and rotors making 15s not fit... which on the standard golf isn't the case, don't know about GTI if they can run 15s, but the golf R definitely can't